The 1984 Olympic Games: A Challenge and an Opportunity for Law Enforcement,

For only the second time in history the Summer Olympic Games will be staged in the United States. The XXIII Olmpiad will be in Los Angeles in 1984 as the X Olympiad was in 1932. Needless to say many changes have occurred in the ensuing 52 years and many of these changes have affected the Games in some way. Changing political environments have affected the Games almost every four years since at least 1936. The effect has varied from overt racism in 1936 to cancellation in 1940 and 1944 to demonstrations in the 50s and 60s to boycotts in 1976 and 1980 and ultimately even to a major terrorist incident in 1972 in Munich. The law enforcement role has also changed significantly over the years. The official report of the 1932 Olympics does not even mention the word security , and the only law enforcement involvement mentioned was the nearly 1000 police officers concerned with traffic control.